Ferguson keeping dispatch center, jail moving to St. Ann

FERGUSON, Mo. (KMOV.com) – Ferguson Police Chief Delrish Moss has been working closely with city leaders to come up with a balanced budget.

There were previously talks the police department’s dispatch center and jail would be closed due to budget issues. While the jail will now be contracted out of St. Ann, the dispatch center will remain in Ferguson.

One of the first lines of community policing is when you pick up that phone and you call the police. The people who answer that phone have to have a buy in to your city,” Chief Moss said.

The chief said moving jail operations to St. Ann shouldn’t be a difficult transition, but it does mean a few people are out of a job. Chief Moss said the city is working with those employees to relocate them to other areas, such as the dispatch center.

Chief Moss told News 4 his number one priority was keeping officers on the force.

“Safety is a priority because if the police aren’t safe the citizens aren’t safe and so it’s very critical to maintain the level of police services so that you can have a safe secure city,” he said.

As students return to school this week in Florida, they will see something new: "In God We Trust." Gov. Scott signed a bill in March that requires all schools to display signs with the state motto in "a conspicuous place."

As students return to school this week in Florida, they will see something new: "In God We Trust." Gov. Scott signed a bill in March that requires all schools to display signs with the state motto in "a conspicuous place."